Misty River Consulting

1. Misty River Consulting Improving Organizational Performance Assisting organizations learn why and how to continually improve their effectiveness and efficiency

2. Maximize Your IncomeandClient Retention By Donald A. Kerper Misty River Consulting www.mistyriver.net

3. Main ThemeProviding Superior Value Drives Increased RevenueandClient Retention By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

4. What You’re Selling Benefits - Your core product is the benefit Wood Pile – split and stacked nicely Product/Services -Items that provide the benefit Sharp axes and hardworking respectful workers. Augmented Product/Services- Additional but non essential & value enhancing features or benefits that accompany the Product/Service Cleans the yard of wood chips, disposes of small useless pieces of wood, places spacer under wood pile to facilitate wood drying, etc. By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

5. Point #1Contractual Fee Alternativesand Impact on Perceived Value Small consultancy’s have a variety of contractual fee alternatives to choose from that vary in their utility to create a perception of value. Select the alternative that has the best opportunity to facilitate the creation of perceived superior value. Doing what is inappropriate harms that perception of value. By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

6. Contractual Fee Alternatives • Time Based Arrangements • Event Based Arrangements • Project Based Arrangements • Retainer Arrangements By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

7. Time Based Arrangements Hourly or Daily Fee Focuses on Efficiency of Time Based Revenue Generation • Hourly Work - Undefined or Specific Project • Daily Work - Undefined or Specific Project By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

8. Time Based Arrangements- Advantages & Disadvantages - • Advantage – You are paid for your time • Disadvantage – Difficult To Emphasize Value By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

9. Event Based Fee Arrangements • Event Based Arrangement Focuses On Clearly Stated Objective With A Definitive Start & End. • Pricing Options • One Price for Event • Price Per Event Participant • Minimum Price for Event with Upside Growth By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

10. Event Based Fee Arrangements- Advantages & Disadvantages - • Advantage • Simple • Can Leverage Value To Some Degree • Disadvantage • Can Suffer if Fee Linked to Number of Participants • Has Definitive End Point By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

11. Project Based Fee Arrangements Project Based Arrangement Focuses On Clearly Stated Objectives That Can Have Real ROI’s. • Specific Project – One Price plus Expenses • Specific Project – One Price • Specific Project – % of Return By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

12. Project Based Arrangements- Advantages & Disadvantages - • Advantage • Simple • Measurable Return on Investment • Can Leverage Value • Disadvantage • You are accountable for the outcomes • Scope creep very difficult to avoid By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

13. Retainer Fee Arrangements • Retainer – One Price for Estimated Work Within A Specified Time Period • Future Work Charged Against This Fee • Non Refundable • Retainer – One Price for Specified Time Period • Creates Availability not Work • Future Work Is Additional Fee By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

14. Retainer Based Arrangements - Advantages & Disadvantages - • Advantage • Simple • Provides Ease of Mind for the Consultant • Can Leverage Value • Disadvantage • If something better comes along, you are not available • If client doesn’t use you within the specified time period, you might not be considered in the future. By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

15. Point #2Use the Contractual Fee Alternative That Provides The Highest Degree of Utility • Example #1 • Large scale organization change initiative should not be time and materials; it should be a project • Example #2 • A single workshop on Action Planning should not be time and materials, it should be an event that has a set fee and extra fees for session size larger than some maximum threshold. By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

16. Point #3Transitioning to and SolidifyingValue Based Fee Structures The Goal: - Be Perceived As The Provider Of Superior Value - By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

17. The Definition of Value Value = Benefits – Cost Superior Value = The Value You Provide > The Value Your Competitors’ Provide By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

18. Creating The Perception of Value • Avoid Hourly or Daily Work Like the Plague • Always search for the true need – not the stated need – from the accountable manager (not the HR or purchasing manager). • Collaborate with and gain consensus with the client on the project objectives, key measures of success, potential strategies of action, etc. prior to proposal creation or fee discussion.  • Work with the client to determine the potential return for the project proposed. By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

19. Creating The Perception of Value • Create a proposal that emphasizes the value being provided and that deemphasizes the cost of the project. • Emphasize that the project’s cost are an investment that has an expected return. • Insist that the client setup and review the key measures of success themselves – not you. • Insist that the client track the return on investment from the project, not you! • Guarantee your work. By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

20. Creating The Perception of Value • If the project implementation is actually not achieving the agreed to objectives, change the implementation strategy or plan and reimplement without additional cost, if possible. • Include other work as needed to keep the initial project on track without additional cost to the client if at all possible. • Think of and behave like this project paves the way for many new future projects with the client. • Turn down business that is not value based in nature. By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

21. Creating The Perception of Value • Ask Clients To “Brag You Up” with members of their networks • Write Articles and Get Them Published – That Impresses People • Write A Book and Get It Published – That Really Impresses People • Become A Celebrity – People Pay To Rub Shoulders With Celebs By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

22. Creating The Perception of Value - Bottom Line - Focus on maximizing the value that your client is getting from you • Do not focus on minimizing your costs • Do not focus on charging for services provided that are outside your contract scope unless absolutely necessary. By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

23. Clients Have Choices- Respect That and Leverage It - • Clients, like any customer, have the right to choose • Clients will choose that which provides the most value and/or ROI • Clients will continue to return to “The Well” that provides the most “perceived” value to them • Be the Best Value Delivery Consultancy! By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

24. Conclusion  Small consultancy’s have a variety of contractual fee alternatives to choose from that vary in their utility depending on the situation. Use The Alternative That Best Provides Superior Value For You and Your Client! By Donald A. Kerper www.mistyriver.net

25. Misty River Consulting Donald A. Kerper511 South Vine Ave.Marshfield, WI 54449Phone: (715) 387-0718Email: misty@mistyriver.netWeb: http://www.mistyriver.net For updated presentation notes, go to http://www.mistyriver.net/IMCnotes